Compare Lead vs Mercury
Comparing Lead (Pb) and Mercury (Hg). Atomic numbers 82 and 80 with atomic masses 207.21 u and 200.592 u, classified as post-transition metal and transition metal. Below: a side-by-side comparison of their physical, atomic, electron-configuration and historical properties, including density, melting and boiling points, ionization energies, oxidation states and discovery history.
Periodic properties of the elements
| Lead | Mercury | |
|---|---|---|
| Symbol | Pb | Hg |
| Atomic number | 82 | 80 |
| Group | 14 | 12 |
| Period | 6 | 6 |
| Block | p | d |
| Element category | Post-Transition Metal | Transition Metal |
Physical properties
| Lead | Mercury | |
|---|---|---|
| Phase at STP | Solid | Liquid |
| Density | 11.34 g/cm3 | 13.534 g/cm3 |
| Atomic weight | 207.21 u | 200.592 u |
| Melting point | 600.61 K 327.46 °C 621.428 °F | 234.321 K -38.829 °C -37.8922 °F |
| Boiling point | 2022 K 1748.85 °C 3179.93 °F | 629.88 K 356.73 °C 674.114 °F |
Atomic properties
| Lead | Mercury | |
|---|---|---|
| Electronegativity (Pauling Scale) | 1.87 | 2 |
| Electron affinity | 34.4204 kJ/mol | -48 kJ/mol |
| Oxidation states | −4, −2, −1, +1, +2, +3, +4 (an amphoteric oxide) | −2 , +1, +2 (a mildly basic oxide) |
| Ionization energies |
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Electron configuration
| Lead | Mercury | |
|---|---|---|
| Shorthand configuration | [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2 6p2 | [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2 |
| Full configuration | 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 4f14 5s2 5p6 5d10 6s2 6p2 | 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 4f14 5s2 5p6 5d10 6s2 |
| Electrons per shell | 2, 8, 18, 32, 18, 4 | 2, 8, 18, 32, 18, 2 |
History
| Lead | Mercury | |
|---|---|---|
| Discovery | Ancient Near East (7000 BC) | Egyptians (1500 BC) |